► A new study in Epidemiologic Reviews, The Transmission of Gun and Other Weapon-Involved Violence Within Social Networks, Dr Melissa Tracy el al, asserts that a better understanding of the relationship between gun violence within social networks and individual gun violence risk is critical in preventing the spread of gun violence.

► A new study from Violence Policy Center, Silencers: A Threat to Public Safety, examines how the gun industry is pushing legislation to weaken federal and state regulation of silencers.The study also documents examples of criminal activity involving silencers.

► Mike Weisser, A Gun Dealer Talks Straight About Guns. The massive increase in gun sales, particularly since 2009, did not represent new consumers. It represents current consumers stocking up on these adult toys.

► Rick Ellison, Milford, Ohio, op-ed, Constitutional solution to guns. The real problem is ammunition. And something can be done about that, without having even the slightest impact on the constitutional right of Americans to bear arms.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

► East Bay Express investigative report, The Gunrunner and the Peacemakers, examines how California's strong firearm regulations help catch gunrunners and make it harder for felons to get their hands on guns.

► Facebook bans private gun sales. The company said it will ban users from coordinating private sales of firearms on Facebook and Instagram. The ban does not apply to licensed gun dealers.

► Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Gun Law Trendwatch, looks at positive and negative trends in state gun bills being considered in 2016.

► Matthew Hess, Veterans should lead push for more secure gun laws. The military's standards for weapons safety are exceptionally high. Veterans - with their weapons experience and training - have a responsibility to lead the fight for more secure gun laws.

Two members of the American militia movement, Charles Carter and Vincent Smith, co-organizers of the "Paul Revere 2016 Final March to Restore America," got into a drunken dispute over a gun. Smith shot Carter in the head, killing him.

► This is what gun violence looks like: 6-year-old Toshia Kinebrew, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was shot outside her apartment in July 2015. The shooting left her paralyzed. Her medical bills have surpassed $1 million and her recovery and treatment are far from over.

It's That Easy

Here is a list of resources on how you can get involved, get informed and take action.

► George Rodrigue, The Plain Dealer, Fear, facts and questions of guns. It's impossible to review gun-safety research without concluding that on average every new gun in America increases the risk of homicide and suicide. The risk is greatest for the guns' owners and then for the people closest to them.

► Gary Gutting, NY Times, Guns and Racism. Perhaps we just haven't realized the extent to which gun violence is destroying urban black communities. But once we realize this, our passion for justice and hatred of racism should galvanize us to action.

► Christopher Hooks, Texas Monthly, Why the mock mass shooting matters. A small group of gun rights protesters put on a "fake mass shooting" at the University of Texas at Austin. The protesters were hugely outnumbered by counter-protesters.